The second-place finish of Carlos Yulo in the individual men’s all-around of the 10th Senior Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championship augurs well with his 2024 Paris Olympic aspirations.
“Yes, I’m excited to see him in the World Championships,” Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion told Daily Tribune yesterday.
The silver medal Yulo took from the ongoing Asian championships in Singapore earned him a ticket to the 52nd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships to be hosted by Antwerp, Belgium starting 30 September.
Yulo, 23, scored 85.930 points to gain a berth in the Belgium worlds that will serve as a qualifier for Paris.
Unfortunately, Yulo will be going alone in Antwerp as the team failed to qualify in the team all-around after the Philippines placed seventh with a score of 237.193 points.
China dominated the team event with 256.762 points with the Japanese at second with 256.694 points and bronze medalist Kazakhstan with 246.828 points.
Despite the inability to make the team event, national team coach Reyland Capellan insists the Singapore showing was a big improvement from the last championships held in Doha.
“A job well done for the team,” Capellan said in a social media post.
“Please keep supporting the team until apparatus finals. Everything is aimed at bringing honor to the country.”
Yulo is slated to defend his three gold medals after topping the vault (14.866 points), floor exercise (14.966), and parallel bars (15.066 points).
Yulo will take the stage today and Sunday when he likewise tries his luck in the rings and horizontal bars.
As of press time, also in the running for medals is Filipino-American Aleah Finnegan, who leads the women’s individual all-around.
She is teaming up with Lucia Guttierez, Kylee Ann Kvamme, Emma Lauren Malabuyo and Ancilla Lucia Manzano in the all-around.
